Port collar and operating tool therefor



July l5, 1969 J. v SALERM ET AL 3,455,380

PORT COLLAR AND OPERATING TOOL THEREFOR 107- ToeA/E w.

July 15, 1969 J. v. sALERm ET AL 3,455,380

PORT COLLAR AND OPERATING TOOL THEREFOR Filed Jan. 15, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ri Lg "t", J'NVENTOQJ.

Io/.w I( SAME/@fw 'j JH/v I'. q@ Boa/awww gmm/ TToR/VEV.

July 15, 1969 J, v sALERNl ET AL 3,455,380

PORT COLLAR AND OPERATING TOOL THEREFOR-` Filed Jan. 15, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 x INvEN-roes. f @10A/N 17. SQLE/e/v/ J'O/N Il Qe Roc-#EMONT Y 5y I5 f, 7 f [7 A TToe/vsv,

United States Patent Olicef 3,455,380 Patented July l5, 1969 3,455,380 PORT COLLAR AND OPERATING TOOL THEREFOR .lohn V. Salemi, Whittier, and John F. de Rochemont, La Habra, Calif., assignors to Baker Oil Tools, Inc., City of Commerce, Calif., a corporation of California Filed `Ian. 15, 1968, Ser. No. 697,890 Int. Cl. E21b 33/12, 33/13, 43/04 U.S. Cl. 166-115 18 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A port collar for well pipe in which an axially shiftable valve sleeve is engageable by an operating tool on a running-in string of pipe, the operating tool is disengageable from the sleeve in response to right-hand rotation of the running-in string, and the valve sleeve is shiftable axially by the operating tool in response to longitudinal movement of the running-in string to open the port in the collar to enable gravel packing, cementing, or the like, of the well. The operating tool includes a foot valve in performing certain cementing operations to prevent ow of cement upwardly through the operating tool.

In the treatment of wells, such as oil or gas wells extending through or into subsurface earth formations, it is sometimes the practice to provide a port collar in a well pipe or casing at or near a zone of the well, in which it is desired to place gravel, cement, or the like. Such port collars typically comprise a sleeve type valve including a sleeve which is axially shiftable by an operating tool adapted to be run into the well on a string of running-in pipe or tubing. Movement of the port collar sleeve is effected in one direction to open the port collar, so that gravel or cement may be" displaced downwardly through the running-in string and into the space outside the well pipe or casing.

It is desirable that the operating tool be capable of engagement with and disengagement from the port collar sleeve in a positive manner, and without requiring substantial rotation of the running-in string of pipe to the left, since the running-in string of pipe is generally composed of joints threadedly interconnected by right-hand rotation, and, as is well known in the art, left-hand rotation of the pipe string could result in the disconnection of a threaded coupling or joint in the running-in string.

Moreover, in some operations in which port collars are employed, including certain cementing operations wherein fluent cementitious material is displaced through the port collar into the space outside the collar, it is desirable that the by-pass passage through the operating tool be closeable to prevent cement from passing through the operating tool mandrel into the annular space between the well casing and the running-in string of pipe.

Accordingly, the present invention has as a general object the provision of a port collar and operating tool which satisfy the above considerations.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a port collar assembly adapted to be disposed in a string of well pipe, casing, or liner, and providing an axially shiftable sleeve within an outer ported sleeve, the outer sleeve having ports adapted to be opened for lateral communication with the space inside the collar when the inner sleeve is moved axially in one direction, the ports being closed when the inner sleeve is moved axially in the other direction, and the inner sleeve being constructed to be engaged by an operating tool whereby such axial movements of the inner sleeve may be effected.

Another object is to provide an operating tool cooperative with a port collar, as referred to above, and operable to engage the inner sleeve of the port collar and to be disengaged from said inner sleeve in response to longi tudinal movement and right-hand rotation of the operating tool on a running-in-string of pipe or tubing, thereby eliminating the need for lefthand rotation of the pipe string in the use of the port collar.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a port collar operating tool adapted to be run into the well pipe having a port collar therein so as to Operate the port collar to open and close the same during certain gravel packing or cementing operations.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a port collar operating tool in combination with a foot valve assembly, which may be optionally employed to shut off the by-pass flow passage through the operating tool when it is possible that cement may tend to ow upwardly through said by-pass passage into the annular space dened between the well pipe, casing, or liner and the running-in string of pipe or tubing, in which the operating tool is run into the well and operated to effect opening and closing of the port collar.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may Vbe made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a form in which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. It will now be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE la is a view showing in Vertical section a port collar in a string of well pipe, and showing in elevation an operating tool disposed in the port collar on a running-in string of pipe;

FIG. 1b is a downward continuation of FIG. 1a, and showing a foot valve 4below the operating tool of FIG. la;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section, as taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. la;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section showing the port collar closed and an operating tool engaged in the port collar valve sleeve;

FIG. 4 is a view generally corresponding to FIG. 3, but showing the port collar open; and

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section as taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

Referring tirst to FIGS. la and 1b, there is illustrated a string of well pipe, casing, or liner C adapted to be run into a Well bore and having a port collar P therein located above a portion of the well pipe C having perforations or slots C1 therethrough, the port collar being operable by an operating tool T adapted to be run into the Well pipe C on a string of running-in pipe or tubing R, hereinafter simply referred to as the running-in string. Beneath the operating tool T, in the illustrative embodiment, is a foot valve F, which is combined with the operating tool for certain operations.

The port collar P includes a body 1 comprising an outer sleeve mem-ber 2 which, at its lower end, is connected by pins 3, or the like, to a bushing 4, which is, in turn, also .connected by the pins 3 to an inner tubular sleeve 5. Suitable seal rings 6 and 7 are respectively provided between the bushing 4 and the mandrel 5 and between the bushing and the outer sleeve 2. At its upper end, the outer sleeve 2 has a counterbore 8 which receives an upper bushing 9, this bushing seating on a shoulder at the base of the counterbore, suitable sealing means 10, 11 being also provided between the bushing 9 and the mandrel or sleeve 5 and between such bushing and the outer sleeve 2, the mandrel having a reduced diameter portion 12 providing a shoulder 13 engaged with the bushing.

The port collar body assembly 1, as thus far described, is adapted to be installed in the casing or well pipe string C by a threaded upper end 14 and a threaded lower end 15 of the mandrel 5 which 'are respectively threaded into couplings 16 and 17, which are, in turn, threadedly connected to upwardly and downwardly extended sections of the well pipe C, with the upper bushing 9 abutting with the lower end of the coupling 16.

The bushings 4 and 9 4maintain the sleeve or mandrel 5 and the outer sleeve 2 in concentric spaced relation to pr'ovide an annular space in which an inner or valve sleeve 18 is reciprocably disposed. This sleeve 18 is adapted, when in the position shown in FIGS. 1a and 3, to close aligned lateral ports 19 and 20 respectively formed in the outer sleeve 2 and in the mandrel 5. Accordingly, the inner sleeve 18 is provided with an imperforate portion 21 intermediate axially spaced seal means between the inner sleeve 18 and the outer sleeve 2, such seal means being illustrated as seal rings 22 and 23 carried by the inner sleeve 18, and slidably engaging an inner cylindrical sealing surface within the outer sleeve 2, so that the inner sleeve 18 closes olf communication `between the ports 19 and when the sleeve 18 is rin the lower position of FIG. 3, such ports 19 and 20 being in lateral communication when the sleeve 18 is moved upwardly within the annular space between the outer sleeve 2 and the mandrel 5, as shown in FIG. 4, when the sleeve 18 is shifted axially t0 an upper position.

In order to facilitate axial movement of the inner sleeve 18 between the two positions just referred to, passages are provided leading into the annular space between the outer sleeve 2 and the mandrel 5, as, for example, passages 24 and 25 in the mandrel 5 adjacent the bushings 4 and 9.

Below the lower seal ring 23, the inner sleeve 18 is provided with a section having lateral ports 26 adapted to register with the outer sleeve ports 19 and the mandrel ports 20 when the inner sleeve is moved axially upwardly, as will be hereinafter described. Such upward movement of the sleeve 18 is limited by abutment of the sleeve with suitable stop means, herein illustrated as an internal shouder 27 within the outer sleeve 2.

Means are provided on the inner sleeve 18, engageable by the operating tool T, hereinafter to be described, for causing movement of the sleeve 18 axially with respect to the mandrel 5 and the outer sleeve 2. Such means, in the embodiment herein disclosed, includes a pair of diametrically opposed lugs 28 welded to, or otherwise made a part of, the inner sleeve 18 and projecting laterally into elongated slots 29 proivded in the mandrel 5. These slots not only afford access for engagement of the lugs 28 by the operating tool, but also constitute keyways guiding the lugs 28 so as to maintain angular alignment of the ports 26 in the inner sleeve 18 with the ports 19 and 2.0 in the outer sleeve 2 and in the mandrel 5. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, the slots 29 are defined between generally laterally extended abutment walls 30 and opposing beveled walls 31 which extend at an angle more or less tangent to the inner cylindrical wall of the mandrel 5. In addition, the slots 29 extend upwardly a substantial distance above the upper end of the inner sleeve 18 when the latter is in its lowermost position, as seen in FIG. 3, so as to provide space for engagement by the operating tool T, now to be described.

This operating tool, in the illustrative embodiment, includes an upper sub having threaded engagement with the running-in string R and threadedly supporting an upper packer nipple 41, this nipple being threadedly connected at its lower end toa latch block carrier or housing 42, to the lower end of which is threaded a sub 43'whicl1 is threadedly connected to a lower packer nipple 44, which is, in turn, threadedly connected to a bottom sub 45. All of these components effectively constitute an operating tool body.

More specifically, the top sub 40 is a crossover device,

4 including a flow passage 50 leading from the running-in string R into the packer nipple 41, the nipple forming a iiow passage 51 extending downwardly through the tool body to the lower end of the latch block housing 42, terminating at a seal plate 52 disposed in a bore 53 in the housing 42 and held in place by the crossover sub 43, seal ring means 54 being provided about the seal plate. A crossover or by-pass mandrel 55 extends longitudinally within the operating tool and is sealingly engaged at its upper end in the top sub 40 and at its lower end in the seal plate 52, the by-pass mandrel having a passage therethrough leading from the top sub 40 through the seal plate 52 and therebelow into the lower packer nipple 44. The top sub 40 has a laterally Opening port 56 which establishes communication between the annulus defined by the well pipe C and the running-in string R and the lower end of the operating tool through the by-pass mandrel 55.

In order to prevent the external ilow of uid past the operating tool T, the upper packer nipple is provided with downwardly facing packer cup means, and the lower packer nipple is provided with upwardly facing packer cup means. The downwardly facing packer cup means comprises, in the specifically illustrated embodiment, a pair of packer cups 60 and 61, and the upwardly facing packer cup means comprises a pair of upwardly facing cups 62 and 63, these cups being composed of rubber or rubber-like material and being responsive to fluid pressure to eifect and retain sealing engagement with the inside of the well pipe C or the port collar P, as the case may be, but being sufficiently resilient so as to allow the cups to pass through pipe couplings, and the like, as the runningin string R is being lowered in the well pipe C.

It will now be apparent that uid owing downwardly through the running-in string R will enter the operating tool through passage 50 in the top sub 40, and thence through ports 65 in the latch block housing 42 into the space outside the operating tool between the opposing packer cups. If the inner valve sleeve 18 is in the upper or registering position in relation to the collar ports, such uid will pass laterally through the ports 65 at the lower end of latch block housing 42, and thence through the ports 20, 26 and 19, respectively, in the port collar mandrel, the inner sleeve, and the outer sleeve, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 4, into the annular space in the well bore defined between the well pipe C and the formation or well zone to be cemented, -gravel packed, or the like. Return flow to the earths surface may occur through the lower packer nipple 44 and upwardly through the by-pass mandrel 55 into the lateral port 56, and thence upwardly in the annular space dened between the running-in string R and the well pipe C.

Means are incorporated in the operating tool T engageable with the lugs 28 of the valve or inner sleeve 18 to effect axial movements thereof between the port open and port closed positions. Such means comprises latch blocks 70 carried by the latch block carrier or housing 42. A pair of diametrically spaced latch blocks 70` are .herein illustrated, corresponding in number to the slots 29 of the port collar mandrel. Each latch block 70 is laterally shiftable in longitudinally extended, radially opening slots 71 formed in the housing 42, the blocks being biased outwardly by suitable spring means, herein illustrated as a number of coil springs 72, engaged at the base of the slots 71 and in seats in the blocks 70. Outward movement of the blocks 70` is limited by end ears 73 on the blocks which are confronted by abutments 74 and 75 provided on the latch block housing 42 conveniently as an integral wall at 74 and as a collar at 75 threaded onto the housing 42 to facilitate assembly.

Each block 70` has upper and lower end surfaces 76 which are beveled, so as t0 cam the blocks inwardly when they encounter an obstruction, as well as when the blocks 70 are to be engaged with the latch lugs 28 carried by the inner port collar sleeve 18. Intermediate their ends, the blocks 70` have notches or recesses 77 adapted to receive the lugs 28 to latch the blocks to the sleeve 18, so that axial movement of the tool T may effect axial movement of the sleeve 18.

In the use of the port collar and operating tool, as so far described, say for gravel packing a well zone outside the well pipe C within the zone in which the pipe C is perforated or slotted at C1, such zone being isolated between casing packers (not shown), the pipe C will be run into the well and the packers set in sealing engagement with the earth formation. Assuming that the port collar P is closed, as shown in FIG. lax, the running-in string R, with the operating tool T therein, will 'be run into the well in the pipe C until the tool T is approximately located at the port collar P. Thereafter, the string R is lowered slowly to position the latch blocks 70` within the mandrel of the port collar. Thereupon, the string R is rotated to the right until the latch blocks 70, under the inuence of springs 72, snap outwardly into the slots 29 of the mandrel 5, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. At this time, the blocks will move outwardly a distance sufficient to cause coengagement of the blocks 70 with the confronting wall of slots 29 radially outwardly from the beveled walls 31, so that right-hand :rotation of the string R will be resisted, thereby indicating at the earths surface that the lblocks 70` are engaged in port collar mandrel slots 29. Then, the string R may be further lowered, the lower beveled ends 76 thereby engaging the lugs 2'8 of inner port collar sleeve 18 so as to cam the blocks 70- inwardly as the blocks move downwardly, until the notches 77 register with the lugs 28; lwhereupon the blocks 70- will spring outwardly to interlock the tool T with the sleeve 18 by coengagement of the lugs 28 in the block notches 77, indicating this fact at the earths surface by reduction in the weight of the running-in string R.

Thereafter, the running-in string R may be elevated to raise the tool T and the port collar sleeve 18 to the position shown in FIG. 4, at which the ports are open. Fluid containing gravel is then caused to ow down the runningin string, through the passage 50 in the upper tool sub 40, and through the tool body passage 51 to the open ports, and thence through the ports, inasmuch as upward or downward flow between the tool T and the collar P is prevented by the opposing packer cups. The gravel will iill the space outside the pipe C as the fluid returns through the perforations or slots C1, and flows upwardly through the crossover means, as previously described, into the annulus bet'ween the string R and the pipe C.

The tool T may then =be released from the port collar sleeve 18 in response to further simple right-hand rotation. Referring to FIG. 5, it will be noted that the latch lugs 28 hold the blocks 70 slightly inwardly, as compared rwith their fully projected positions shown in FIG. 2, so that right-hand rotation of the string R will cause engagement of the adjacent longitudinal edge of the blocks 70 with the beveled slot walls 31, resulting in a camming action on the blocks 70 tending to force them inwardly out of engagement with the lugs 28 on the port collar inner sleeve 18 and out of the slots 29. The string R and the tool T may then be moved elsewhere in the wall bore to operate another port collar, or to be removed from the well.

Referring now to FIG. 1b, there is illustrated the foot valve assembly F, previously referred to, which is adapted to be combined with the operating tool T in the performance of certain cementing operations, in which it is desired that cement be displaced through the port collar P, but be precluded from reentering the tool T.

The foot valve F comprises an upper sub 80 connected to the string R Ibelow the tool T and supporting an outer tubular valve body 81 having a lateral port or ports 82. Within the tubular body 81 is an inner tubular body 83 telescopically movable within the outer body and having at its upper end a cylindrical valve closure provided with an annular seal ring 84 slidably engageable in a cylindrical sealing surface 85 within a skirt 86 depending from the upper sub 80. Means are provided for limiting telescopic movement of the bodies 81 and 83, in the illustrative emfbodiment, in the form of a I -lock including a pin 87 carried by the outer body 81 and engageable in a slot 88 formed in the inner body I83. This slot 88 has an upper horizontal portion 89, a vertical leg 90, and an angular portion 91 leading from the leg 90 into a vertical short leg 92, whereby the outer body may be rotated to the left and moved upwardly relative to the inner body 83 to cause opening of the foot valve, as the sealing portion clears the seal ring 84 so that iiuid may ow from the well pipe C into the port 82, and thence upwardly through the crossover means within the operating tool T, as previously described.

In order to hold the inner body stationary during such operations, the foot valve includes friction drag means comprising a body 95 connected to the inner body 83:y by a coupling 96. The body 95 is provided with the usual type of d-rag springs 97 which are frictionally engageable with the `well pipe C, and a bull nose 98 is provided at the lower end of the body 95.

It will now be apparent that while lluent cement may be displaced through the port collar P, such cement cannot nd access to the crossover means of the operating tool Iwhen the foot valve F is closed, whether such cement passes into the well pipe C through the slots or perforations C1, or whether such cement tends to by-pass a casing packer and return up the casing, as is known in the art.

Moreover, when the foot valve is run into the well in an open condition to allow maximum fluid by-pass, the foot valve may be conditioned to close in response to right-hand rotation employed to engage the latch blocks 70 of the port collar operating tool in the slots 29 of the port collar P, and the foot valve will be closed as the tool T is moved downwardly to engage the latch lugs 28 of the inner sleeve 18 with the notches 77 of the latch blocks 70.

We claim:

1. In combination, a port collar adapted to be installed in a string of well pipe in a well bore and having a lateral port, valve means including a member for opening and closing said port in response to axial movement of said member, and means for moving said member axially including an operating tool adapted to be run into the well bore on a running-in string, said operating tool and said member having latch means coengageable and releasable in response to right-hand rotation of said tool.

2. The combinaiton of claim 1, wherein said latch means comprises a latch block carried by one of said l tool and said member, means for biasing said block laterally, a latch lug on the other of said tool and said member engageable by said block, and means for camming said block and said lug apart upon right-hand rotation of said tool relative to said port collar.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said means for camming said block and said lug apart includes a cam surface acting on said block to force the same laterally against said biasing means.

4. The combintion of claim 1, wherein said port collar includes a mandrel supporting said member for axial movement, said mandrel having a longitudinally extended slot, said latch means including a lug in said slot and a block carried by said tool, means biasing said block laterally outwardly for engagement in said slot, and camming means for forcing said block laterally inwardly in response to engagement of said block with said lug upon longitudinal movement of said block in said slot, said block having a notch in which said lug is engageable upon further longitudinal movement of said block.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4, wherein said slot has a beveled side wall for forcing said block out of engagement with said lug upon rotation of said tool in a right-hand direction.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein said tool has means for causing the flow of lluid laterally of said tool through said port, and by-pass means for allowing ow of fluid longitudinally of said tool.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein foot valve means are provided for selectively preventing said longitudinal How of said uid.

8. The combination of claim 6, wherein foot valve means are provided for selectively preventing said longitudinal flow of said uid, said foot valve means including telescopic valve bodies providing a lateral opening when in one telescopic position and closing said opening when in another telescopic position, and means for releasably holding said bodies in said telescopic positions.

9. The combination of claim 6, wherein foot valve means are provided for selectively preventing said longitudinal ow of said fluid, said foot Valve means including telescopic valve bodies providing a lateral opening when in one telescopic position and closing said opening when in another telescopic position, and means for releasably holding said bodies in said telescopic positions, including drag means on one of said bodies frictionally engageable with said well pipe for holding said one of said bodies stationary, the other of said bodies being connected to said tool for movement therewith, and J- lock means for limiting relative movement of said bodies.

10. In combination, a port collar adapted to be installed in a string of well pipe in a well bore and having a lateral port, a mandrel, a valve sleeve axially movable on said mandrel between port open and port closed positions, said mandrel having a plurality of longitudinally extended slots, and means for moving said valve sleeve axially between said positions including an operating tool having a body adapted to be connected to a running-in string, said body having a passage communieating with said running-in string and a lateral opening, downwardly facing packer cup means above said opening, upwardly facing packer cup means below said opening, laterally shiftable latch members carried by said body, resilient means biasing said latch members laterally outwardly for engagement in said slots when said latch members are aligned with said slots, and latch members carried by said valve sleeve and engageable by said laterally shiftable latch members in response to longitudinal movement of said laterally movable latch members in said slots.

11. The combination as defined in claim 10, wherein said slots each have a beveled wall for camming said laterally shiftable latch members laterally out of engagement with said latch members on said sleeve.

12. The combination as defined in claim 10, wherein said latch members on one of said tools and said sleeve include lugs and the other of said latch members have notches engageable by said lugs.

13. The combination as dened in claim 10, wherein said valve sleeve has a port adapted to register with said first-mentioned ports in one longitudinal position, and said latch members carried by said valve sleeve are disposed in said slots to maintain said ports longitudinally aligned.

14. The combination of claim 10, wherein said slots have one beveled side wall engageable by said laterally shiftable latch members to disengage said latch members in response to rotation of said tool to the right.

15. The combination as defined in claim 10, including a by-pass passage through said body, and foot valve means for preventing ow of fluid through said by-pass.

16. A port collar adapted to be installed in a length of well pipe, comprising a supporting mandrel, a stationary ported sleeve carried by said mandrel, a valve sleeve movable axially in said ported sleeve to open and close said ported sleeve, latch means on siad valve sleeve engageable by an operating tool to elect axial movements of said valve sleeve, said mandrel having longitudinally extended slots therein, each of said slots having beveled surfaces on the right-hand side of said slot.

17. A port collar as dened in Claim 16, wherein said latch means extend into said slots, and said valve sleeve has lateral ports aligned with the ports of said stationary ported sleeve.

18. An operating tool for port collars disposed in a well pipe, comprising a tool body having a lateral opening, opposing packer cups carried by said body at opposite sides of said body, latch blocks carried by said body and shiftable laterally outwardly and inwardly, spring means for 'biasing said blocks outwardly, cam surfaces on said blocks for shifting said blocks inwardly upon engagement with a cooperative latch member in said port collar, and means for limiting outward shifting of said blocks.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,431,751 12/1947 Hayward 166-115 2,790,501 4/1957 Garrett et al 166--115 X 3,335,802 8/1967 Sextfert l66-226 JAMES A. LEPPINK, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

